Rare, who had previously developed theDonkey Kong Countrygames, began development on the 3D Donkey Kong in 1997. A 16-person team, with many members recruited from Rare’sBanjogroup, finished the game in 1999, when it was published byNintendofor North America in November and worldwide by December. It was the first game to require the Nintendo 64 console’sExpansion Pak, an accessory that addedmemoryresources. The game had an exceptionally large marketing budget that included advertisements, sweepstakes, and a national tour.

The game received universal acclaim from reviewers and was Nintendo’s top seller during the 1999holiday season, with 2.3 million units sold by 2004. It won the 1999E3 Game Critics awardfor Best Platform Game, and multiple awards and nominations from games magazines. Reviewers noted the game’s exceptional size and length, but criticized its emphasis on item collection and backtracking. Some cited its similarity in gameplay and visuals to Rare’s 1998 predecessor,Banjo-Kazooie, despiteDonkey Kong 64‘smandatory memory add-on. The game’s camera controls also frustrated reviewers. Critics felt that the game did not meet the revolutionary potential ofDonkey Kong Country, but remained among the best 3D platform games on the console.

Donkey Kong 64is remembered as the emblematic example of Rare’s “collect-a-thon” adventure platformers for the tedium of its collection tasks. Arapsong from the game’s introductory sequence—the DK Rap—is often cited among the worst songs to feature in a video game.[4]The title was later released on Nintendo’sWii U Virtual Consolein 2015.